Feeling homesick for a place you once belonged — or for something you can’t quite name? This reflection explores the ache of wandering and the hope we find when we remember that our true home is not on earth, but in heaven with Christ.
Homesickness. It can come and go in a fleeting moment, settle in for hours, consume an entire day, or linger for years. Homesickness intensifies when you leave or briefly return to a place that truly feels like "home"—a place filled with the essence of your life. It’s where relationships are deeply rooted, memories are woven into every corner, and milestones shaped your journey. It’s where your children grew up, experiencing countless firsts, and where you became who you are today. But what happens when the place you call "home" is not where God has placed you in this season of your life? Perhaps one day, He’ll lead you back, or maybe He never will. For now, this is not the home He has called you to.
When Home Doesn’t Feel Like Home
That can be a hard truth to accept. We often assume that God’s plans will always bring us immediate happiness and fulfillment. We want to believe that wherever He places us, it will feel like home. Yet, there are times when we can’t shake the feeling of being wanderers—strangers in a foreign land.
For me, I’ve spent more time—though not consecutively—where I am now than in the place I still consider "home." But it wasn’t the years, achievements, or material comforts that made that place home. It was the deep sense of belonging. It was the people, the culture, and the quiet assurance from God that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Over the years, I’ve moved back and forth between this current town and that beloved place. Where I reside now is good—the people are good, the work is good, and the landscape is beautiful. Yet, even with all these blessings, I sometimes feel like a wanderer, longing for the day God might bring me "home." He may choose to, or He may not. But I know I’m not alone in this feeling. Many others share the same longing, the same ache for a place that feels like home.
The Wilderness and God’s Purpose
I often think about the Israelites. They wandered for forty years in the wilderness, longing for the promised land. Many never lived to see it, dying as wanderers along the way. What’s striking is that even in their wandering, some felt homesick for Egypt—a place of enslavement—simply because it was familiar. Yet, the wilderness was exactly where God needed them to be during that time.
Even Jesus experienced life as a wanderer. This world was not His home, and He reminded His followers of that reality. In Matthew 8, when eager disciples declared their willingness to follow Him "anywhere," Jesus offered this poignant reminder: "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." - Matthew 8:20. Jesus had no earthly home, but He walked His path with perfect trust in God’s purpose for His time on Earth.
Faith That Looks Toward a Better Home
The author of Hebrews also gives us encouragement for when we feel homesick or misplaced. In Hebrews 11, the author reflects on the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and others. In the midst of recounting their journeys, these words stand out:
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." - Hebrews 11:13-16
These words remind us that even in our own seasons of homesickness, we are not truly misplaced. Wherever God has placed us, and for however long He keeps us there, this world is not our true home. Our ultimate home is not here; it is a heavenly one. It is with Jesus, and it is eternal. Our earthly homes, our wandering, and even our longing are temporary.
When we view life through an earthly lens, everything feels endless and unchanging. But a heavenly perspective transforms everything. It renews our hope, shifts our mindset, and makes what once seemed so permanent feel fleeting and small in comparison to eternity.
Our true home is in heaven. As Philippians 3:20 reminds us, our citizenship is there. It is an eternal dwelling, prepared by God Himself, where we will spend eternity with Him (2 Corinthians 5:1-2). That is where our hearts will finally find rest.
Reflection
If you’re feeling homesick—whether for a place, a time, or simply a sense of belonging—pause and invite God into that space.
Ask Him to remind you that your longing points to something eternal. Maybe He’s preparing your heart for deeper trust. Maybe He’s teaching you that home isn’t defined by geography, but by His presence.
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